Passports For Kids: Their Key To The World

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:50:46 EST

International travel is a great way to show your kids the world first-hand. However, just like an adult, your child will need a passport. There are some topics about passports for minors that receive many questions, and by knowing a little bit about these concepts, you can feel confident when you travel around the world with your children in tow.

Everyone who travels needs a passport, from the smallest infant to the most elderly gentleman. Also, passports are valid for children under sixteen for only five years, while those above age sixteen can keep those for ten years. If a passport is damaged, it will need to be replaced. Additional passport pages can be inserted without having to purchase a completely new passport.

In February 2008, the rules changed a little bit. Now a passport application requires the consent of both parents or legal guardians. While this consent isn't required for applications for children between the ages of 16 and 18, it may be requested by the passport agent. Also, if your child is under the age of 18, he or she is required to be present in front of the AA, or the acceptance agent. Both parents will need to show valid identification when applying for the child.

In order to successfully apply for your minor child, you will need to have proof of their US citizenship. This can be done with a previously issued passport that is not damaged, a naturalization certificate, a certified birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, or a certificate of citizenship.

With this done, you will then need to prove your relationship to the child. This can be done with a certified birth certificate with both parents' names, an adoption decree, or a court order mandating guardianship or custody. A birth certificate can be from another country, as long as you have another source of proof for citizenship.

The parents or guardians will then have to prove their identity. Previously issued passports, valid driver's licenses, military or government employee ID, or naturalization certificates are acceptable forms of identification. After this is done and photocopies are made for the records, parents would then give their consent, pay for the US passport, and submit two identical passport photos. This completes the process.

On another note, if you and your spouse are American citizens and you have a baby born abroad, it needs to be reported to the US embassy or consulate in the country. A basic American citizenship document, the Consular Report of Birth of a Citizen of the United States of America, will be issued, granting your child American citizenship.

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Passports For Kids: Their Key To The World